What is Manganese?
Manganese is a chemical element, a hard, brittle, silvery metal. It’s a naturally occurring mineral found in various forms, including in rocks, soil, and water. Manganese is essential for human health as a trace mineral.
How is it Used?
Manganese is primarily used in the production of steel – about 95% of all manganese produced in the world is used for this purpose. A portion of the remaining production is used as a component in some types of batteries, like the ones used in mobile phones and electric vehicles. The EV battery industry is, however, increasingly moving away from manganese as a component in its batteries.
Eagle Underground Copper/Nickel Mine
Upper Peninsula, Michigan
What are the Risks?
Manganese is not innocuous. Numerous studies have shown that manganese is a potent neurotoxin. Environmental exposure to manganese – through breathing contaminated air and drinking contaminated water – beyond levels recommended by the MN Department of Health and federal Environmental Protection Agency causes developmental, motor, and cognitive damage in humans. These levels of exposure are, unfortunately, a well-documented result of manganese mining.
About EMIG
The Emily Mine Information Group (EMIG) was formed by five Emily residents in 2021 in response to renewed exploration of the manganese deposit located within the city limits of Emily, Minnesota.
“Our mission is to evaluate and disseminate information regarding the risks and benefits of the proposed Emily manganese mine to support economic opportunities in a manner consistent with sound natural resource conservation and community health.”
keep informed
Contact us to receive updates on the proposed mine and guidance on how you can make your voice heard in the discussion over the future of Emily and its surrounding communities.
We look forward to hearing from you.